Demeter and Persephone

myminifactory

Persephone was Demeter's daughter, a young woman known for her beauty and charm. One day while Persephone was busily gathering flowers in the lush fields of spring, Hades, god of the underworld, appeared before her with his dark and mysterious power. No one had any idea where she had gone or what had happened to her. Demeter was consumed by worry and grief, her heart heavy with sorrow. She asked Helios, the sun god, for information about her daughter's disappearance. When she learned that Hades had captured Persephone, she became enraged and furious. Zeus intervened, commanding Hades to release Persephone immediately. Persephone was overjoyed at being reunited with her mother but Hades tricked her into eating some pomegranate seeds before she left the underworld. He knew that if she ate anything from the land of the dead, she would have to return to him for a part of each year. Demeter was ecstatic when Persephone returned to her, but every time her daughter had to return to Hades, Demeter mourned terribly again. This is why for a part of each year the plants and crops stop growing, only to burst forth with new life when Persephone returns to earth. This beautiful sculpture was discovered in a sacred sanctuary in Derveni, an archaeological site located between Efkarpia and Lagyna, approximately ten kilometers north-east of Thessaloniki. This remarkable object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, which aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the world for the public to access for free. Scan The World is an open-source community effort that relies on contributions from people like you. If you have interesting items in your possession and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can help make a difference.